The Lodestar

Do you eagerly anticipate your prayer time, or is praying sometimes tedious, dull, and tiring? Remember, prayer is a source of joy and inspiration, not just a routine. We grow dull when we feel that we have prayed all that we should pray for and there is nothing left to pray. It could happen when we have reached a point of saturation or when we do not know what to pray for.

This kind of spiritual stagnation, a state of feeling spiritually stuck, sets in when we consider prayer as presenting God with a shopping list. When all the list items are ticked, shopping is over. God has answered all requests, so prayer comes to a screeching halt.

But prayer is not just about presenting our needs to God. It is a joyful journey of experiencing his presence, much like spending time with our dearest friends. In these moments, there are no requests, no demands, just pure enjoyment of each other’s company.

Where do we find topics to talk about? If we follow the prompts from each other, the conversation never ends. This is what the Holy Spirit does in prayer. When we immerse in the presence of God, when there are no more things to pray for, the Holy Spirit prompts us to pray for items that are not on the list. These could be personal growth, understanding, or guidance. The Holy Spirit, our divine guide, helps us to pray for something that we have not thought about yet but is essential. Thus, the Spirit keeps us talking to God about things we never considered necessary.

When you feel like you have exhausted all your prayer topics, remember the transformative power of silence. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide your prayers. You will find that this transforms your prayer time from a chore to a cherished moment you will want to repeat.

(To receive these devotionals daily on WhatsApp, click here.)